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“And then?”
“Then, mouse, I suppose we’ll find out what happens when a Noctis player and a future crime boss are stupid enough to fall in love.”
His head turns, brows drawing together. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.” I run my thumb over the new band at his wrist. “Half your clothes are already in my wardrobe. Damaris has colonized the kitchen. The staff treat both of you like permanent fixtures, and if we’re being honest, I’ve been mentally rearranging my life around you for months.”
Rowan’s mouth curves, but I keep going before he can interrupt.
“Right now, the only thing we’re actually arguing about is how long it takes you to realize you’re not going anywhere.”
Something soft flickers in his eyes. “You’ve really thought about this.”
“Obviously,” I huff, which earns a scoff. Thankfully, his fingers tighten around mine, and that gesture speaks more truth than his words ever could.
“That’s not what I meant, though.”
I press his hand between both of mine.
I know. Of course I do.
“I mean after all that.”
I just look at him. At the bandages. At the medical band resting against his wrist. At the fact that he’s here.
Still fucking here.
“I’ll probably be running the family by then. Mom will finally start stepping back, which means everyone will suddenly discover they have opinions. And you’ll be playing.”
“You say that like it’s obvious.”
“Because it is. You’re Rowan Ashford. Of course you’ll be playing. And occasionally I’ll steal you away from all of them and make you play for me.”
His eyes narrow. “That sounds alarmingly close to imprisonment.”
“It’ll be a very luxurious imprisonment. And you’ll come home every night and tell me about all of it.”
Something shifts in his expression as he looks at me, the smile softening into something quieter, more vulnerable. “Home.”
I nod. “Wherever we are.”
He just looks at me before murmuring, “You make it sound easy.”
“It won’t be. The Reach will still be the Reach. The families will still be the families. People will still want things from us.” Lifting our joined hands, I press a kiss to them. “If I wanted easy, I would’ve picked someone else. But I didn’t. Though I could probably shackle you to my life if I wanted to.”
A soft huff escapes him. “I knew that was coming.”
“I know.” And still, I find myself smiling. “But I don’t think I’d have to.”
For the first time since I’ve known him, Rowan doesn’t argue. He just tightens his fingers around mine and looks out the window, and somehow that feels more permanent than any promise I could have made.
A knock lands on the door before either of us can say anything else.
I don’t let go of his hand. “Come in.”
The door opens and Dad steps inside, his gaze dropping to our joined hands before lifting again. One eyebrow arches ever so slightly.
Beside me, Rowan goes completely still.
